SafetyNet 340

SafetyNet 340, September 23, 2015
Welcome to SafetyNet – read all about what's been happening in OHS here and
everywhere. Remember: if you're an elected health and safety rep, register now
for the VTHC HSR Conference, to be held during Health and Safety Week. Please
send me your views and any questions you might have to ohsinfo@vthc.org.au (please - do not reply to this email!) And please follow us on Twitter: @OHSrepsThank you! Renata

Union News

Calling
ALL HSRs! VTHC Health and Safety Reps Conference – October 27
To all HSRs: go to your employer NOW to organise your attendance at the VTHC's
Conference on Tuesday October 27; 8.30am – 4pm, at the Melbourne Convention and
Exhibition Centre; South Wharf, Melbourne. Meet other HSRs, skill up and
learn how to advocate for safer workplaces.

Topics
include:

How to raise awareness and resolve
OHS issues in your workplace – practical strategies and advice

OHS indicators for
workplaces

Risks to psychological health
(including bullying and stress)

The Conference
program has been approved by WorkSafe under s69(1)(d) of the OHS Act. An
employer must allow HSRs time off with pay to attend on the day. The HSR must
give the employer at least 14 days' notice. (Deputy HSRs do not have an
entitlement to attend under the Act – but are welcome if they have made
arrangements with their employer to attend)

Register through the WorkSafe Victoria Health and Safety Week website If you would prefer to register by phone,
either contact your union, or ring WorkSafe's Advisory Service on 9641 1444 or
toll free 1800 136 089. More information, and to download a flyer go
to this page on the OHS Reps @ Work website.

7-Eleven workers get free legal helpThis week employment law firm
Maurice Blackburn announced it was providing free legal advice to any 7-Eleven
workers trying to recover wages and other entitlements via the panel set up by
7-Eleven and chaired by former ACCC chairman Professor Allan Fels. The ABC's
Four Corners program and Fairfax Media investigations revealed widespread
exploitation of 7-Eleven workers. There could be up to 4000 workers affected
across a network of 600 stores. The firm says however, that attempts to rectify
widespread underpayment of these workers will fail unless the Federal
Government allows a visa amnesty for affected staff. Any 7-Eleven worker who
wants support to lodge a claim for underpayment of wages should call the
Maurice Blackburn hotline on 1800 243 766. Read more: Maurice Blackburn Media Release; Malcolm Turnbull urged to intervene in
7-Eleven wage abuse scandal The Age; and discussion SafetyAtWorkblog: Inquiry into precarious/insecure work includes
OHS

Ask Renata Hi Renata,I am a
newly elected HSR and was looking forward to attending my first OHS Committee.
However, management cancelled the meeting because they said they don't have a
copy of the constitution, and so it cannot meet until management has written
it. Is this correct?

The OHS Act does not go into very much detail regarding the
workplace OHS Committee. However, it clearly gives the power to the committee
itself to "determine its own procedures", and says nothing about the employer
doing this. The 'functions' of the
committee are listed under s72 of the Act:

to facilitate cooperation.. in instigating, developing and carrying out measures designed to ensure the health and safety of employees;

to formulate, review and disseminate … standards, rules and procedures relating to health and safety;

and any other functions.. agreed between the employer and the committee.

So, I would suggest going back to management and requesting a date
to be set in order for the committee to determine its own constitution. I have
material which I can forward to you to assist, but in the meantime, check out Health and Safety Committeeson the
website.

Please send any OHS related queries
in to 'Ask Renata'- your query will be responded to as quickly as we can – usually
within a couple of days.

Change in
Federal Employment Minister
Under Australia's new Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, former OHS and IR
lawyer with one of the nation's biggest employer law firms, Michaelia Cash will
oversee Comcare, Safe Work Australia and the model WHS laws after being
appointed Employment Minister. Cash, a Western Australian Senator, is also
Minister for Women and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public
Service. Unsurprisingly, Australian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Kate Carnell welcomed Cash's appointment.

Meanwhile, in what could be seen as another attack on individual
workers, Senator Eric Abetz used his final days as Employment Minister to add
drug testing requirements to the Commonwealth Building Code. Introducing
mandatory testing with the justification that the "construction industry is a
high risk industry where the risks associated with the use of heavy machinery,
mobile equipment, working in congested areas and working from heights are
accentuated by the effects of alcohol and drug use" is ludicrous to anyone with
even a superficial knowledge of OHS. Construction sites are hazardous sites and
what both common sense and OHS legislation requires is that employers take
action to eliminate the hazards or risks - or if not reasonably practicable,
minimising them. If, as Abetz says, "Safety is a paramount consideration on
construction sites," the emphasis must be on the hazards, not on individuals. Read more: Senator Abetz Press Release Building Code requires drug and alcohol
testing Commentary from SafetyAtWorkBlog: Drug and alcohol testing for Australian
construction sites

Asbestos
News ACT: Experiences of loss and griefNine
Canberrans whose homes are going to be demolished due to contamination by Mr
Fluffy loose-fill asbestos have had their personal accounts of grief and
resilience documented in a new digital narrative. The 40-minute anthology, Surrender, explores the loss, pain and
resolution felt by those plagued by asbestos in their family homes. Using
family photos and home videos, each resident explored their stories of what
'home' meant to them.One of the
stories in the anthology, Tania can be viewed on
YouTube.Read more:Mr Fluffy: Tales of grief and resilience from
nine Canberrans explored in digital narrative ABC News online

NSW: Family of Opera
House worker wins compensation Acrow
Formwork & Scaffolding Pty Ltd, a contractor involved in the construction
of the Sydney Opera House, has been ordered to pay the family of George
Dionysatos, who died of mesothelioma in July 2012 over $490,000 in damages.
Acrow failed to convince the NSW Court of Appeal there was no evidence it knew
asbestos was used at the site. Mr
Dionysatos worked as a scaffolder at the Opera House construction site from
1963 to 1969.

Turner
Freeman Lawyers partner Tanya Segelov, who acted for the family, said the Court
of Appeal decision reinforced the positive duty of care that all employers had
to their workers. "This case will
have a profound impact on cases where victims provided care for children, the
elderly, or the disabled, with the Court ruling that Mr Dionysatos's employer,
who was responsible for him being exposed to asbestos, was liable for funding
the provision of that ongoing care," she said. "The Court's rejection of [Dionysatos's]
employer's arguments that they were not liable because they did not control the
use of asbestos, and were not aware of the risks, also confirms that an
employer's duty of care to their staff requires the proactive identification of
risks, and that ignorance is no excuse."

ASEA NewsThe agency has released its monthly newsletter ASEA Matters [pdf] which has items on the National Strategic Plan, the Corporate Plan and 'managing the importation of asbestos in Australia'. There is also a discussion of results of the 'Baseline Awareness Study' commissioned by ASEA. The results of the survey, while not surprising to asbestos 'activists', are worrying: it revealed there is considerable work to be done to raise the levels of awareness about the dangers of asbestos and how to manage it safely. The survey found only moderate community understanding exists of how prevalent asbestos is in the built environment, with few people confident in their ability to identify asbestos containing materials or situations that could put them at risk of exposure. The survey also found that while most understand the danger, few have the practical skills to identify asbestos products and handle them safely.

2nd
International Asbestos ConferenceThe
updated conference program for ASEA's second International Conference on
Asbestos Awareness and Management, 22 - 24 November at the Brisbane Convention
and Exhibition Centre in South Brisbane has now been released. Go to this page to check it out. ASEA
has also announced that it has extended
the cut-off date for Early Bird registrations to September 30. Read more: ASEA Conference
pageand to register.

Italy: Illegally
imported asbestos a problem there too!
Despite its asbestos ban, Italy has been importing asbestos-containing products
from Asia. Enquiries by customs officials to find the names of Italian
recipients of toxic Indian goods have been unproductive and no assistance has
been received from officials in India despite requests made by Public
Prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello. The discovery of asbestos in 9,000 imported
Chinese cars necessitated remedial work, swamping personnel at local health
authorities. A National Labor Inspectorate has been tasked with responding to
this crisis. See: Amianto,
Guariniello: l'India ne ha esportato in Italia [Asbestos, Guariniello: India has exported [asbestos] to
Italy]. Source: IBAS

Sri Lanka: Asbestos Ban
plannedSri
Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has said he would take measures to
totally ban the production and importation of asbestos in 2018, according to
local media. He made these remarks at a ceremony held at the President's House
in Kandy to honour the school children and teachers in Kandy District for an
environmental service programme.See: Sri Lanka
president to ban production of asbestos in 2018 Gulf Times

Spain: Asbestos causes
laryngeal cancerSpain's
Ministry of Employment and Social Security has agreed with social partners to
update the list of occupational diseases to include laryngeal cancer caused by
inhalation of asbestos dust. This change, which will result in a future Royal
Decree, is the result of collaborative efforts by a working group set up to
consider the appropriateness of adapting the list in light of new research
findings.See: La Seguridad Social incorpora el cáncer de laringe por
inhalación de amianto al listado de enfermedades profesionales [Social Security
includes laryngeal cancer on list of occupational diseases caused by asbestos].Source: IBAS

Want to know about Asbestos laws and more? Go to
the Asbestos sectionon the site.

Reminder: Summer and
skin cancerIf you or your Designated Work Group members are going to be at
risk of being exposed to UV radiation (sunlight) this summer, and you haven't yet raised the issue
with your employer, then do so. Also consider getting advice from Cancer Council
Victoria. CCV's SunSmart program offers workplace training sessions to help
educate organisations and their workers about the harmful effects of UV
radiation. Delivered by trained
educators, these include an overview of skin cancer and UV-related injuries, practical
solutions to reduce UV risk in the workplace, a guide to skin checks, and the
optional inclusion of a skin scanner that reveals hidden UV damage. To book, or for more information, contact SunSmart on (03) 9514
6419, email
sunsmartworkplace@cancervic.org.au, or visit the SunSmart websiteMore information on Sunlight - UV Radiation on the website

International Union News
Pakistan: Workers killed making clothes for big name brandsFour workers died and sixteen were injured when the roof of a
garment factory collapsed on 5 September in Lahore, Pakistan. The factory was
operating in a badly constructed building and producing garments for the
overseas market. Jeans Company Private Limited was registered in 2010 and was
producing jeans, shirts and caps. Although about 1,150 workers were employed in
the factory, because it was a Friday, most of them had gone to Friday prayers.
Only 40 workers were present when the roof of the factory caved, otherwise
there would have been many more casualties. Jyrki Raina of the global union
federation IndustriALL said: "Garment factories are still dangerous in Pakistan
and in Bangladesh garment companies are making much too slow progress in
improving factory safety. There is still too much complacency among global
brands: How many more dead bodies do we need before brands take responsibility
to ensure safe working conditions for all the workers who contribute to their
multibillion dollar profits?" The 11 September third anniversary of the Ali
Enterprises factory fire, Pakistan's worst garment industry tragedy, prompted
renewed calls on German retailer KiK to pay compensation to the relatives of
the 254 workers killed and to the 55 others serious injured making KiK clothes.
Read more: IndustriALL news release and related news release .Source:
Risks 720

Saudi Arabia: Crane collapse kills
over 100 people The deaths of over 100 people from the collapse of a construction
crane in Mecca is just the latest industrial 'accident' to have occurred this
year with multiple incidents of worker deaths and a dangerous lack of safety
precautions on building work in the city. As the biggest country in the Gulf
region and one of the richest, Saudi Arabia has a huge construction sector that
employs millions of workers, most of whom are temporary workers. Many other
migrant workers are found in other sectors of the economy. Many of these
workers face terrible working conditions as independent unions are not allowed
in Saudi Arabia.Read more: Mecca crane collapse shows dangers of city's
construction boom The
Guardian. Source: AAWL Mini News

Research

Methyl Chloride – a killerMethylene
chloride, is common solvent in paint strippers, widely available products with
labels that warn of cancer risks but do not make clear the possibility of rapid
death. In areas where the fumes can concentrate, workers and consumers risk
asphyxiation or a heart attack while taking care of seemingly routine tasks.
That hazard has led to the European Union removing methylene chloride paint
strippers from general use in 2011. This is not the case in either the United
States or Australia. A Center for Public Integrity analysis identified at least
56 accidental exposure deaths linked to the chemical in the US since 1980. Read more: Common solvent keeps killing workers, consumers The Center for Public Integrity

Prolonged sitting: bad for liver as well!

A group of
Korean researchers undertook a study to examine the association of sitting time
and physical activity level with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in
Korean men and women. They found that prolonged sitting time and a lack of
physical activity are independently associated with fatty liver disease. The
study involved 140,000 middle-aged men and women who underwent a health
examination between March 2011 and December 2013, including nearly 40,000 with
NAFLD. There are a growing number of
studies which have suggested an association between sedentary behaviour and
chronic diseases (including obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolic
syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even death). Read more: Ryu, S & Ors: Relationship
of sitting time and physical activity with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, [abstract] and related Editorial; Journal of Hepatology, 14 September 2015

Fracking chemicals: endocrine disruption and
illness

There is
mounting data to suggest that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can have adverse
effects on the environment. A new US study, however, suggests that populations
living close to fracking sites also have a higher incidence of health
complications. This has implications, of course, for everyone employed in the
industry.

Researchers at
the University of Missouri studied data to determine whether residential
populations living near what they called "unconventional oil and gas
operations," or UOGs, were at a higher risk for endocrine-disruption from
exposure to fracking chemicals. The scientists examined case studies and
peer-reviewed publications and concluded that each of the chemicals needed a
more intensive case-by-case study when used near human populations. Researchers Susan C. Nagel and Christopher D.
Kassotis said: "More than 700 chemicals are used in the fracking process, and
many of them disturb hormone function." Read more: Triple
Pundit; Source:
Environmental Health News

Regulator News

WorkSafe annual reportThe Victorian workers compensation system is in a sound financial
position, according to the 2014/15 results released last week by WorkSafe
Victoria. Continued improvements in
safety prevention and the best Return to Work results on record have helped
achieve a performance from insurance operations (PFIO) of $211 million. Overall,
the scheme posted a net result of $454 million.
The results were released to key stakeholders by Minister for Finance
Robin Scott MP and WorkSafe Chief Executive Clare Amies at a briefing at the
State Library of Victoria. According to Ms Amies, the PFIO of $211 million
reflected the sound management of the scheme.

Ms
Amies said she was pleased the number of injuries in Victorian workplaces had
continued to fall - from 7.37 claims per million hours worked in 2013/14 to
7.34 claims in 2014/15. But the number of workplace fatalities remained a major
concern. "While Victorian workplaces can be proud that the state's injury rate
continues to decline, it is slowing, and finding ways to drive the injury rate
lower will not be easy," she said. "However, it is a tragedy that 20 Victorians
lost their lives in workplace fatalities last year, the same number as in
2013/14. Every workplace fatality is unacceptable and preventable." Read more: WorkSafe Media Release Results show scheme is in a sound financial position .

Safety SoapboxIn the latest edition of WorkSafe's Safety Soapbox, posted on September 17, Barry Dunn, Construction
Advisor in WorkSafe's Construction Program, talks about traffic management
requirements when setting up and operating construction plant on roadways
adjacent to construction sites. As well as news from around the country, the
newsletter also links to two new WSV Safety Alerts:

Temporary Site Structures: warning of the danger to workers and the public from poorly designed, constructed or maintained temporary structures on construction sites; and

There
were 59 Reported Incidents (attached to Safety
Soapbox) in the construction, utility, quarrying and mining industries from
27 August - 9 September 2015, and include: 21 near misses, nine fractures,
eight lacerations, four electric shocks and two burns. Access the September 17 Safety Soapbox edition online, including link to the list of
reported incidents.

WorkSafe
Victoria releases new guidance on Asbestos

After input from stakeholders, WorkSafe Victoria has released new
guidance on asbestos:

WorkCover
NSW: recognition of plantNSW's work health and safety regulator SafeWorkNSW has announced
it now recognises plant design and item registrations issued in Vic and WA.
This is a bonus for businesses operating on the NSW/Victorian border in
particular.More
information on registration requirements
for plant in NSW

Safe Work
AustraliaAustralia-wide
fatalities As at September 15, 119 fatalities had been reported to Safe Work – eleven more work-related deaths
since September 8 – too many preventable deaths! The
fatalities have been in the following industries:

39 in the Transport, postal and warehouse sector;

27 in Agriculture, forestry and fishing;

16 in Construction;

ten in Mining;

six in Manufacturing;

five each in Electricity, gas, water & waste services; and in Arts & Recreation services;

three each in Administrative & support services; and in 'other services'

two each in the Retail trade; and in Accommodation & food services

one in Health care & social assistance

More information on which industries the fatalities
occurred in is accessible on the Safe Work Australia Work-related fatalitiespage.

The latest monthly fatality report remains that for May
2015 – during which there were 11 work-related notifiable fatalities: eight
male workers, one female worker, and both a male and female bystander. The
report can be downloaded from the Safe Work Australia Monthly Fatalities Reports page.

SWA launches electronic
safety kitIn
readiness for October's National Safe Work Month, SWA has developed an electronic information kit to help employers raise
work health and safety awareness within their organisations. The kit includes a
number of safety posters, fact sheets and key safety statistics that can be
printed and used in the workplace.

SWA
CEO Michelle Baxter encouraged employers to get involved in the many activities
and events planned for Safe Work Month, including the agency's free Virtual
Seminar Series, which will broadcast daily on the latest WHS research and safe
work design. More information on National Safety Month

Useful materials From the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: Tackling
electrical safety risks at work – a new Napo film. The Agency says:
"Electricity is a familiar and essential part of everyday life, also in the
workplace. But electricity can injure or kill workers, and cause damage if it
is not handled properly. There are simple precautions that can be taken to
significantly reduce the risk of injury when working with or near electricity.
"Napo in… Shocking situations" describes common electrical hazards and risks,
and provides some preventive and safety tips. This film, like all Napo films,
is designed to raise awareness about workplace risks, to promote discussion and
to lead to safer working practices."Check out the new Napo film here. Other wonderful Napo films, on a variety of OHS issues, can also be accessed from this page.

OHS
Prosecutions

Victorian prosecutions 1 – Company fined
$25,000 following workplace collision resulting in amputation
W & H Mahony Pty Ltd, a company involved in the bulk grain storage and
handling, has been fined $25,000 plus costs of $4,473 following an incident in 18
September 2014, when a worker lost two toes.
Another employee had been using a bobcat to fold grain traps and the
bobcat 'came into contact' with the worker seriously injuring his right foot.
WorkSafe's investigation revealed that W & M Mahony Pty Ltd did not ensure
employees were isolated from the movement of mobile plant or ensure a safe
operating area was maintained between mobile plant and other activities on
site.

2 – Construction company fined total of $35,000 for charges relating to
trenches G&S Fortunato Group Pty Ltd, a company involved
in civil construction work principally trenching and excavation works and in
control of the workplaces in question, has been charged in the Geelong Magistrates' Court and fined $10,000 and
$25,000 for two charges, for breaching s23(1) of the OHS Act in failing to
provide a safe system of work.

The first charge related to an incident on 17
October 2015, when a worker was working in a 2m deep trench with inadequate
ground support, and no perimeter guarding. The second charge related to an
incident on 5 February 2015, and involved a worker standing at the edge of a
three to four metre deep trench, again there were no fall prevention measures. Further,
no safe work method statement had been completed. In both incidents there was a
clear risk of serious injury or death as a result of the worker either falling
into the trench/excavation or being trapped or engulfed in the
trench/excavation if it collapsed.

3 – Garijon fined $5000Garijon Pty Ltd, a company involved in the
construction of domestic dwellings, has been fined in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court following an inspector visit
to a domestic building site on 29 September 2015. The inspector observed a
contractor working on the extreme edge of the roof of the house frame at a
height of about 6 metres. There was a 350-400 mm high timber parapet wall
against this edge. At the rear of the building was an incomplete scaffold
(approximately 5 metres high) - incomplete because the top level was one metre
below the roof level, it was missing planks and handrails and it was not
affixed to the building. This scaffold was the only means of exiting the roof.
The inspector issued a number of notices to Garijon prohibiting further roofing
work and requiring development of a safe work method statement (SWMS). As a
result, Garijon completed the scaffold, secured and extended it past the
roofline, installed handrails around the remaining roof perimeter and developed
a SWMS for the high risk construction work on the roof of the dwelling. The company was fined $5,000 plus costs of
$3,317.

International News

US: Workplace deaths
highest level since 2008?New
data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week indicates that
workplace deaths could reach their highest level in that country since 2008.
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries revealed that 4,679 workers died of
injuries in 2014. That figure will be undergo a final revision in the spring of
2016, when the BLS will likely add a few hundred deaths to that estimate.
According to The Wall Street Journal
this means 2014 total is likely to surpass the 4,700 recorded in 2009 and 2010. Fatal falls, slips, and trips
increased 10 per cent to 793 in 2014. There were also more fatalities in mining
(up 17 per cent), agriculture (14 per cent), manufacturing (9 per cent), and
construction (6 per cent), while at-work deaths for government workers were
down 12 per cent. Of course these figures do not include deaths resulting from
work-related disease. Read more:Workplace
deaths likely to reach highest level since 2008 Fortune

India: Tea report
exposes failures by Rainforest Alliance
Child labour, exposure to highly toxic chemicals and diseases related to
extreme poverty and dismal, insanitary housing have been discovered at tea
plantations in India despite the tea producers boasting certification by the
corporate responsibility auditor the Rainforest Alliance. A BBC investigation
found the firms supplying some of Britain's (and Australia's) biggest tea
brands, including PG Tips, Tetleys and Twinings, were Rainforest certified
despite major violations of national law and Rainforest's own standard. Living
and working conditions are so bad, and wages so low, that tea workers and their
families are left malnourished and vulnerable to fatal illnesses, the BBC
found.

There was also a disregard for health and safety, with workers spraying
chemicals without protection, and on some estates, child labour being used. The
BBC investigation confirmed concerns raised earlier by the global food and
farming union IUF. IUF general secretary Ron Oswald commented: "Earlier cases
showed us that Rainforest certification means nothing when it comes to ensuring
workers' rights and freedom of association. Now we have further examples of
failure on housing, pesticides and child labour, failure that can easily
mislead consumers and may constitute false advertising of products." The union
head concluded: "Companies have to stop hiding behind certification and
Rainforest Alliance has to be asked if it really has a role to play in
guaranteeing social conditions. Maybe Rainforest Alliance certification works
for forest protection but for protection of workers and their working
conditions we have another clear example of its failure. Consumers need to hear
this truth." In a statement, Rainforest Alliance said it takes the allegations
seriously, adding: "An investigation into the allegations is currently
underway." Read more: BBC News Online and related release. Rainforest Alliance
statement. Source: Risks 720

Events

At Trades Hall(Corner Victoria and Lygon St, Carlton South)

VTHC OHS Training Centre

Remember that elected health and safety
representatives and also deputies have the right to attend the training course
of their choice – both the initial 5 day course and a 'refresher course' each
year after that. If you haven't done your Refresher training this year, then
register now. Below are the dates for the next few courses. For more details,
and to download an application form, go to the Training program page (Internal link) or contact Judith Rodda on (03) 9663
5460 for any training related queries.

HSR Initial OHS Training Courses

October 5 - 9

Initial

Carlton

October 12 - 16

Initial

Carlton

October 12 - 16

Education

AEU (Abbottsford)

November 9 - 13

Initial

Carlton

November 30 - December 4

Initial

Ringwood

December 7 - 11

Initial

Carlton

HSR Refresher OHS Courses

September 21

General

Portland

September 23

General

Ballarat

October 7

General

Carlton

October 8

General

Bendigo

November 4

General

Carlton

The unit also runs Comcare courses and courses for
managers/supervisors – check the site for dates.

Injured Workers GroupThe
Injured Workers Group Inc of Victoria is a non-profit organisation run and
organized by injured workers, It was formed to provide clear and concise
information on injured workers' rights under the Victorian Workers Compensation
Act, to form networks between union and non-union injured workers, and to help
injured workers establish links within their local community health system and
other organisations that can offer support. All injured workers are
welcome to attend its meetings, which are run at the Trades Hall at 11.30am
every 3rd Thursday of each month. For more information, contact Peter on
03 9460 7592, or by email, or visit their website.

ACTU Health and Safety
TrainingThe
ACTU provides a number of courses in OHS and related areas. These courses
include:

Certificate IV in OHS Course, six days face to face (offered in two parts of 3 consecutive days each).

Certificate IV in WHS (BSB41412) Upgrade (a one day face to face course). Attendance at this course will ensure graduates of the current Certificate IV in OHS will be compliant with the recent updated Certificate. This is also a prerequisite to the Diploma Course in WHS (BSB51312).

Organising for Safer Workplaces (two days) and

Workplace Bullying and Harassment (one day).

OHS for Union Delegates – choice between a One or Two day course

For
information on these and other courses, download the ACTU's course guide and go to the Upcoming
courses page on the ACTU website or contact Anna Pupillo
or Chris Hughes for more details (ph ACTU: 9664 7334).

7 October: AEU HSR
Statewide Network Meeting Australian
Education Union (AEU) members are invited to attend a state-wide network meeting
of the union's Health and Safety Representatives. At this meeting, HSRs will
hear a report on Monash University's recent OHS survey of members, and it will
provide an opportunity for reps to share their ideas, issues and challenges in
their role as an HSR.

The AEU supports HSRs to promote and protect members' interests. HSRs play a vital role in promoting and protecting safe workplaces. This meeting will be facilitated by AEU's OHS organiser Janet Marshall, and Renata Musolino from Trades Hall. Light refreshments will be provided. The union encourages attendance in person wherever possible, to enhance networking opportunities. If anyone has any specific OHS issues to be raised at the meeting, please email Janet

Where: AEU Victoria, 112 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford, or online via computer (Online participants can ask questions and comment throughout the workshop. Preference will be given to members connecting online from regional areas. Instructions for those wishing to participate online will be sent by email before the event.)When: Wednesday, October 7, 2015. 4.30-6.00pmRegistration: On the AEU Website